But the Buildbase Suzuki rider rediscovered a ‘comfortable’ feeling with his GSX-R1000 which enable him to grab pole position at Cadwell Park before converting his pace into a double rostrum – his first podiums since race one at Brands Hatch Indy in April.

“I’m over the moon, honestly it is so nice to be back on the podium and to be up the front is great with a feeling on my bike that I am comfortable with and can push with against the front-runners,” Ray said. “I am so happy about that. It is so vital to get podiums and podium credit for the Showdown.

“I tried to stay with Jake and Leon [in race two] when they came past but I had a few moments and when I saw on my pit board I was P3 with six seconds ahead, with only four laps to go, so I tried to keep the gap and not do anything stupid.

“Unfortunately for Jake he went on the grass on the last lap to hand me second but like I said it is nice to be sat on the podium, a double podium here, to get some more points for the championship.”

The double podium comes at a vital time with the BSB Showdown triggering into action after the next round at Silverstone with his top six spot looking under threat heading into the Cadwell Park round.

Ray remains fifth in the BSB standings put has now pushed the gap to nearest Showdown rival outside the top six, Danny Buchan, to 40 points with just the triple-header at Silverstone round to go.

Smiths Racing BMW’s Peter Hickman moved up to sixth to take the final provisional Showdown spot from Buchan and has a seven-point advantage on the FS-3 Racing Kawasaki rider.